JP2008299042A - Projector and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide: a projector capable of restraining a light source from being turned on carelessly by an operation of an infant or the like; and a control method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 20 instructs an electric power circuit 31 to start the supply of electric power to each part when an electric power source key is operated (turned on) in a stand-by state, and brings the projector 1 into an ON-state. But a light source control part 32 is maintained in the condition where the light source 11 is turned off until receiving the indication from the control part 20. The control part 20 determines thereafter whether an image signal is input into any of input terminals 25a or not, based on a detection signal from an image signal detecting part 27. Based on a result therein, the control part 20 instructs the light source control part 32 to turn on the light source 11, when the image signal is input into any of input terminals 25a. Resultingly, the light source 11 is turned on, and an image based on the image signal inputted into the input terminal 25a is projected from an image projection part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector that modulates and projects light emitted from a light source and a control method therefor.

When using a projector that modulates the light emitted from a light source such as an ultra-light pressure mercury lamp and projects it from a projection lens onto a screen or the like at home, if the projector is left in a position where an infant can reach, An infant may accidentally turn on the power to turn on the light source and look into the projection light. If you look directly into the projection light of the projector, you may feel intense glare and temporarily lose visual acuity.
Patent Document 1 proposes a battery-driven small video projector in which a power switch is turned on by performing an operation of extending a projection lens so that a light source does not turn on carelessly.

JP-A-6-186522

However, the video projector described in Patent Document 1 is effective in preventing the power switch from being turned on inadvertently while being stored in a bag or the like, but the operation of extending the projection lens is easy for an infant. Therefore, it is not effective for preventing an infant from looking into the projection light.
In addition, there is a projector having an openable lens cover on the front surface of the projection lens, but there is a risk that the lens cover may be forgotten to be closed or an infant may open the lens cover.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 Image signal input unit to which an image signal is input, a light source, a light modulation device that modulates light emitted from the light source according to the image signal, and the light modulation device A projection optical system for projecting an image formed in the above, an image signal detection unit for detecting an input of the image signal to the image signal input unit, and when the image signal detection unit detects an input of the image signal, A projector comprising: a light source control unit that turns on the light source.

  According to this projector, since the light source control unit is configured to turn on the light source when the image signal detection unit detects input of the image signal, input of the image signal is necessary to turn on the light source. . For this reason, for example, the light source is not turned on only by a simple operation such as a switch, and it is possible to prevent the light source from being turned on carelessly by an operation of an infant or the like.

  Application Example 2 In the projector described above, an input operation unit that receives an on operation for switching the operation state of the projector from an off state to an on state, and the operation state of the projector according to the on operation. A control unit that switches to an on state, and the control unit switches the projector to an on state after the operation state of the projector is switched to an on state and the image signal detection unit does not detect the input of the image signal for a predetermined time. A projector characterized by switching the operation state of the projector to an off state.

  According to this projector, the control unit switches the projector operation state to the off state when the image signal is not input for a predetermined time after switching the projector operation state to the on state in response to the on operation. It is possible to suppress the ON state from being continued due to careless operation, and it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption.

  Application Example 3 In the projector, an input operation unit that receives an off operation for switching the operation state of the projector from an on state to an off state, and the image signal detection unit after the off operation is performed. And a warning unit that warns that the image signal is input when the input of the image signal is detected.

  According to this projector, if an image signal is input when the operation state is switched to the off state, the warning unit warns that effect, so that the off state with the image signal being input is suppressed. Is possible. For this reason, when switching to an ON state next, it can suppress that a light source lights up only by simple operation, such as a switch.

  Application Example 4 A projector control method for projecting light emitted from a light source by modulating the light based on an input image signal, and switching the operation state of the projector to an on state based on an input operation. The light source is turned on when the input of the image signal is detected in the first step, the second step of detecting the input of the image signal after the first step, and the second step. And a third step of controlling the projector.

  According to this control method, since it is necessary to input an image signal in order to turn on the light source, for example, the light source is not turned on only by a simple operation such as a switch. It is possible to suppress the light source from being inadvertently turned on.

  Further, in the case where the above-described projector and its control method are constructed using a computer (CPU) provided in the projector, the form and the application example described above are a program for realizing the function, or the program. Can be configured in the form of a recording medium or the like recorded on the computer in a readable manner. As recording media, flexible disks, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punch cards, printed matter on which codes such as barcodes are printed, projector internal storage devices (memory such as RAM and ROM), Various media that can be read by the computer, such as an external storage device, can be used.

Hereinafter, the projector according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a projector according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes an image projection unit 10, a control unit 20, a storage unit 21, an operation panel 22, a remote controller 23, an operation signal reception unit 24, an input terminal group 25, an input source selection unit 26, an image signal. The image projection unit 10 includes a light source 11, three liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B as light modulation devices, and a projection optical system. The detection unit 27, the image signal processing unit 28, the OSD processing unit 29, and the like. Projection lens 13, light valve drive unit 14 and the like.

  The light source 11 includes a discharge-type light source lamp 11a made of a high-pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and a reflector 11b that reflects light emitted from the light source lamp 11a toward the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B. Yes. Light emitted from the light source 11 is converted into light having a substantially uniform luminance distribution by an integrator optical system (not shown), and red (R), green (G), and blue that are the three primary colors of light by a color separation optical system (not shown). After being separated into each color light component of (B), it enters the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, respectively.

  The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are configured by a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sealed between a pair of transparent substrates. The liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are formed with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a driving voltage can be applied to the liquid crystal for each pixel. When the light valve driving unit 14 applies a driving voltage corresponding to the input image data to each pixel, each pixel is set to a light transmittance corresponding to the image data. That is, the light emitted from the light source 11 is modulated by transmitting through the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, and image light corresponding to the image data is formed for each color light. The formed image light of each color is synthesized for each pixel by a color synthesis optical system (not shown) to become image light representing a color image, and then enlarged and projected onto the screen SC or the like by the projection lens 13.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) used for temporary storage of various data, and the like, and operates according to a control program stored in the storage unit 21 to operate the projector 1. Centrally control the operation. That is, the control unit 20 functions as a computer together with the storage unit 21. Further, the control unit 20 is provided with a timer 20a for measuring time.

  The storage unit 21 includes a non-volatile memory such as a mask ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, or an FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM). The storage unit 21 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the projector 1, various data, and the like.

  The operation panel 22 and the remote controller 23 correspond to an input operation unit, and include a plurality of operation keys for performing various instructions to the projector 1. The operation keys provided on the operation panel 22 and the remote controller 23 include a “power key” for switching power on / off, a “menu key” for displaying a menu image for performing various settings, a cursor movement in the menu image, and the like. There are a “cursor key” and an “input source switching key” for switching an input source (image signal supply source). When the user operates various operation keys on the operation panel 22, the operation panel 22 outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation content of the user to the control unit 20. When the user operates various operation keys of the remote controller 23, the remote controller 23 emits an infrared operation signal corresponding to the user's operation content, and the operation signal receiving unit 24 receives this and transmits it to the control unit 20.

  The input terminal group 25 corresponds to an image signal input unit, and includes a plurality of input terminals 25a capable of inputting various types of image signals from an external image supply device (not shown) such as a video reproduction device or a personal computer. ing. The image signal input to each input terminal 25 a is supplied to the input source selection unit 26.

  The input source selection unit 26 selects one input terminal 25a based on an instruction from the control unit 20 among the plurality of input terminals 25a, and outputs an image signal input to the input terminal 25a to the image signal processing unit 28. . When the user designates a desired input terminal 25a by operating an input source switching key provided on the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23, the control unit 20 determines that the image signal input to the input terminal 25a is the image signal processing unit 28. The input source selection unit 26 is instructed to output the signal.

  The image signal detection unit 27 determines whether an image signal is output from the input source selection unit 26, that is, whether an image signal is input to the input terminal 25a selected by the input source selection unit 26. And a detection signal indicating the detection result is output to the control unit 20.

  The image signal processing unit 28 applies various types of image signals input from the input source selection unit 26 to image data representing the gradation of each pixel of the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B, that is, a drive voltage applied to each pixel. Is converted into image data for prescribing. Further, on the basis of an instruction from the control unit 20, the converted image data is adjusted for brightness, contrast, sharpness, hue, and various image quality adjustments such as gamma correction. The image data whose image quality has been adjusted by the image signal processing unit 28 is output to the OSD processing unit 29.

  The OSD processing unit 29 displays an OSD (on-screen display) image such as a menu image or a message image on an image (input image) based on image data input from the image signal processing unit 28 based on an instruction from the control unit 20. The process for superimposing on is performed. The OSD processing unit 29 includes an OSD memory (not shown), and stores OSD image data representing graphics, fonts, and the like for forming an OSD image. When the control unit 20 instructs to superimpose the OSD image, the OSD processing unit 29 reads the necessary OSD image data from the OSD memory, and the image signal processing unit so that the OSD image is superimposed at a predetermined position of the input image. The OSD image data is combined with the image data input from the control unit 28. The image data combined with the OSD image data is output to the light valve driving unit 14. When there is no instruction to superimpose the OSD image from the control unit 20, the OSD processing unit 29 outputs the image data output from the image signal processing unit 28 to the light valve driving unit 14 as it is.

  When the light valve driving unit 14 drives the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B according to the input image data, the liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B form images according to the image data, and these images are projected to the projection lens. 13 is projected onto the screen SC.

  Commercial power such as AC 100 V is supplied (input) to the power circuit 31 from the outside. The power supply circuit 31 converts a commercial power supply (AC power supply) into a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage and supplies power to each unit of the projector 1. Note that the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 31 to switch between supply and stop of power (operating power) necessary for image projection while operating with power supplied from the power supply circuit 31. be able to.

  Based on an instruction from the control unit 20, the light source control unit 32 controls supply and stop of power to the light source 11 and switches between turning on and off the light source 11.

  The LED display unit 33 is an indicator composed of one or a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes), and switches the lighting state based on an instruction from the control unit 20, thereby allowing the user to operate the projector 1 in an operating state (on state or standby state). Status). The LED display unit 33 can represent a large number of operating states by appropriately switching the lighting state of the LED, that is, the lighting, blinking, extinguishing, emission color, and the like of the LED.

Next, the operation of the projector 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
When commercial power is supplied to the projector 1, the power supply circuit 31 supplies power (standby power) to the control unit 20, the storage unit 21, the operation panel 22, the operation signal receiving unit 24, and the LED display unit 33 to control the power. The unit 20 receives this power supply and starts an operation according to the control program. Immediately after the commercial power is supplied, the projector 1 is in a standby state (also referred to as an off state), and in this state, the control unit 20 monitors an on operation for the power keys of the operation panel 22 and the remote controller 23. When this on operation is detected, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 31 to start supplying the operating power, and sets the projector 1 in an operable state (on state).

  In the on state, the control unit 20 monitors an off operation with respect to the power key. When the off operation is detected, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 31 to stop the operation power supply and shifts the projector 1 to the standby state. Let

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the projector 1 during the ON operation. When the power key is operated (ON operation) in the standby state, the control unit 20 operates according to the flow shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in step S <b> 101, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 31 to start supplying operating power, and turns on the projector 1. As a result, the image signal detection unit 27 can detect the image signal, the image signal processing unit 28 can perform various processes, and the light source control unit 32 can control the light source 11. The light source control unit 32 keeps the light source 11 off until receiving an instruction from the control unit 20.

  In step S102, the control unit 20 starts timing by the timer 20a. In the subsequent step S103, the control unit 20 instructs the LED display unit 33 to turn on the LED in a predetermined lighting state, and the light source 11 is turned off, that is, the lighting of the light source 11 is suspended. To the user.

  In step S104, the control unit 20 determines whether an image signal is input to any of the input terminals 25a based on the detection signal from the image signal detection unit 27. Specifically, the control unit 20 causes the input source selection unit 26 to sequentially select the input terminals 25a one by one, and acquires the detection result of the image signal detection unit 27, whereby the image signal for each input terminal 25a is obtained. Determine whether there is input. As a result, if an image signal is input to any of the input terminals 25a, the process proceeds to step S105, and if no image signal is input to any input terminal 25a, the process proceeds to step S106.

  When the image signal is input and the process proceeds to step S105, the control unit 20 instructs the light source control unit 32 to turn on the light source 11, and ends the process at the time of the on operation. As a result, the light source 11 is turned on, and an image based on the image signal input to the input terminal 25a is projected from the image projection unit 10.

  When the input of the image signal is not detected in step S104 and the process proceeds to step S106, the control unit 20 performs a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) after the ON operation is performed based on the time measurement result by the timer 20a. It is determined whether or not elapses. As a result, if the predetermined time has not been reached, the process returns to step S104 to determine again the input of the image signal. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S107.

  When a predetermined time elapses after the on operation is performed and the process proceeds to step S <b> 107, the control unit 20 instructs the power supply circuit 31 to stop the supply of operating power, and the processing at the time of the on operation Exit. As a result, the projector 1 shifts to the standby state.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the projector 1 during the off operation. When the power key is operated (off operation) when the projector 1 is on, that is, the light source 11 is lit and an image is projected, the control unit 20 operates according to the flow shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in step S <b> 201, the control unit 20 determines whether an image signal is input to any of the input terminals 25 a based on the detection signal from the image signal detection unit 27. As a result, if an image signal is input to any one of the input terminals 25a, the process proceeds to step S202. If no image signal is input to any input terminal 25a, the process proceeds to step S206.

  When an image signal is input and the process proceeds to step S202, the control unit 20 instructs the OSD processing unit 29 to indicate that the image signal is input and for a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds). After the elapse of time, a warning message (for example, “the image signal has been input. The power is turned off after 20 seconds”) is superimposed on the input image. In subsequent step S203, the control unit 20 starts measuring time by the timer 20a.

  In step S204, the control unit 20 determines again whether or not an image signal is input to any of the input terminals 25a based on the detection signal from the image signal detection unit 27. As a result, if an image signal is still input to any one of the input terminals 25a, the process proceeds to step S205. If no image signal is input to any input terminal 25a, that is, input of the image signal is interrupted. If yes, the process proceeds to step S206.

  When the input of the image signal is continued and the process proceeds to step S205, the control unit 20 has passed a predetermined time (for example, 20 seconds) after displaying the warning message based on the time measurement result by the timer 20a. Determine whether or not. As a result, if the predetermined time has not been reached, the process returns to step S204 to determine again the input of the image signal. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S206.

  When the process proceeds to step S <b> 206, the control unit 20 instructs the light source control unit 32 to turn off the light source 11, performs various processes necessary for the end of the operation, and then instructs the power supply circuit 31. Then, the supply of operating power is stopped, and the processing at the time of the off operation is ended. As a result, the projector 1 shifts to the standby state.

As described above, according to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 20 instructs the light source control unit 32 to turn on the light source 11 when an image signal is input to any of the input terminals 25a. In order to turn on the light source 11, an image signal needs to be input. For this reason, the light source 11 is not turned on only by operating the power key, and it is possible to prevent the light source 11 from being turned on carelessly by an operation of an infant or the like.

  (2) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, the control unit 20 switches the operation state of the projector 1 to the on state in response to the power key on operation, and then the image signal is not input for a predetermined time. Since the operation state of the projector 1 is switched to the standby state, it is possible to suppress the on state from being continued due to careless operation, and it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption.

  (3) According to the projector 1 of the present embodiment, when the operation state is switched to the standby state in response to the off operation, if an image signal is input, a warning message is displayed to warn to that effect. It is possible to suppress the standby state with the image signal being input. For this reason, when it switches to an ON state next, it can suppress that the light source 11 turns on only by ON operation of a power key.

  In this embodiment, in step S202, the control unit 20 and the OSD processing unit 29 that display a warning message indicating that an image signal is input correspond to the warning unit.

(Modification)
Moreover, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the control unit 20 switches the projector 1 to the standby state when no image signal is input within a predetermined time after the user performs an on operation. Even when there is no input, the light source 11 may be turned on when a predetermined input operation is performed on the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23. In this case, it is desirable to request a relatively complicated operation such as simultaneous operation of a plurality of keys so that the input operation is not inadvertently performed.

  In the above embodiment, if an image signal is input even after the user performs an off operation, a warning message is displayed for a predetermined time, and then the state shifts to a standby state. Even when the operation is continued, if a predetermined input operation is performed on the operation panel 22 or the remote controller 23, the standby state may be entered at that time.

  In the above-described embodiment, when an image signal is input after the off operation, a warning message using the OSD image is displayed. However, this is warned by other display means such as the LED display unit 33. You may make it do it, and you may make it warn by an audio | voice by the audio | voice output means (not shown).

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmissive liquid crystal light valves 12R, 12G, and 12B are used as the light modulator. However, it is also possible to use a reflective light modulator such as a reflective liquid crystal light valve. In addition, it is possible to use a micromirror array device that modulates light emitted from a light source by controlling the emission direction of incident light for each micromirror as a pixel.

  In the embodiment, the light source 11 is constituted by the discharge-type light source lamp 11a. However, a solid light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source or other light sources may be used.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a projector according to an embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the projector at the time of ON operation. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the projector during an off operation.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Projector, 10 ... Image projection part, 11 ... Light source, 11a ... Light source lamp, 11b ... Reflector, 12R, 12G, 12B ... Liquid crystal light valve, 13 ... Projection lens, 14 ... Light valve drive part, 20 ... Control part, 20a ... timer, 21 ... storage unit, 22 ... input operation unit, 23 ... remote control, 24 ... operation signal reception unit, 25 ... input terminal group, 25a ... input terminal, 26 ... input source selection unit, 27 ... image signal detection unit , 28... Image signal processing unit, 29... OSD processing unit, 31... Power supply circuit, 32.

Claims (4)

An image signal input unit to which an image signal is input;
A light source;
A light modulation device that modulates light emitted from the light source according to the image signal to form an image;
A projection optical system for projecting an image formed by the light modulation device;
An image signal detection unit for detecting an input of the image signal to the image signal input unit;
A light source controller that turns on the light source when the image signal detector detects the input of the image signal;
A projector comprising: The projector according to claim 1,
An input operation unit that receives an on operation for switching the operation state of the projector from the off state to the on state;
A control unit that switches the operating state of the projector to an on state in response to the on operation;
With
The control unit switches the operation state of the projector to the off state when the image signal detection unit does not detect the input of the image signal for a predetermined time after switching the operation state of the projector to the on state. Projector. The projector according to claim 1,
An input operation unit that receives an off operation for switching the operation state of the projector from an on state to an off state;
A warning unit that warns that the image signal is input when the image signal detection unit detects the input of the image signal after the off operation is performed;
A projector comprising: A projector control method for projecting light emitted from a light source by modulating light based on an input image signal,
A first step of switching the operating state of the projector to an on state based on an input operation;
A second step of detecting an input of the image signal after the first step;
A third step of turning on the light source when the input of the image signal is detected in the second step;
A projector control method comprising:

Images